WEC Featherweight Championship
Mike Thomas Brown vs. Urijah Faber

The Breakdown: The long-awaited rematch between Brown (21-4), the incumbent featherweight champion, and Faber, the man he replaced, comes with a distinct set of expectations this time around. Brown took Faber’s title but remains a relative unknown in comparison to his media darling counterpart. The marked size advantage Brown holds over “The California Kid,” which was a major factor in Brown’s first-round knockout win against him in November, has not changed. Whether or not Faber (22-2) will overcome that gap and find a way for his hyperactive offense to work against Brown stands as the defining question surrounding this bout.

Fast and talented as Faber may be, Brown’s strength and fundamental acuity make him a unique presence in the division; he’s a physically dominant fighter who still relies on technique to get the job done. Brown’s balance of finesse and Incredible Hulk power has Faber pegged as an underdog -- and for good reason. He may be beloved for his Jeff Spicoli “surfer dude” demeanor, but Faber needs to come out from the opening bell and swarm Brown without making any obvious mistakes. If not, he risks seeing his years of divisional dominance go for naught.

The X Factor: Faber can always rely on his fighting instincts. For whatever reason, he seems to know exactly what to do when the action gets most hectic. If he can force Brown to get into scrambles and generally disrupt the flow of his offense, Faber will give himself the best chance of not only winning but taking out Brown in a manner that would announce his return as the division’s top dog. Whatever plays out after the fight, Faber needs to go into it knowing his spot in the division will be won or lost in the scramble.

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The Bottom Line: Faber may deserve the right to bask in the glow of the featherweight division’s renaissance, but his frame does not belong at 145 pounds. The difference in size alone presents enough problems for Faber in this rematch. Throw in Brown’s underrated versatility and junkyard dog determination, and this just is not the fight Faber hopes it to be. Expect another dominating performance from Brown, who moves that much closer to building himself as the featherweight fighter of our time.